Apparatus for the extraction of nicotin and other products from tobacco.



F. T. BIRDWOOD.

APPARATUSFOR THE EXTRACTION 0F NICOTIN ANDOTHER PRODUCTS FROM TOBACCO. AFPLICATION FILED JULY I. 1915.

1 .17.,487. Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

mentor MiQMW/AH L6 m F. T. smuwoob.

APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTION 0F N IC QTIN AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM'TOBACCO. APPLICATION FILED JULYI, I915.

1,178,487. Patented Apr. 11, 19-16.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2-- F .Z; J

"I I J C) m fi J4 if fiunuuuun BU Wizfnesses E SA PATE T 0F FRANCIS TnAvims nrrtnwoon, or LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE EXTRACTIbN OF NIGOTIN AND OTHER PRODUCTS FROM TOBACCO.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Application filed July 1, 1915. Serial No. 37,500..

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known .that I, FRANCIS TRAVERS Binnwooo, a subject of the King of England, residing in London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Apparatus for the Extraction of Nicotin and other Products from Tobacco or Tobacco Products, of which the following is aspecification. I

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for extracting,' principally, nicotin and ammonia from tobacco and tobacco products, although other substances may also be removed from the tobacco or its products in a similar manner.

distilled from the tobacco or the like and having means to conduct such condensed products away from the apparatus.

In the present apparatus the tobacco is preferably treated in a manufactured or usable condition such as, for instance, cigars, cigarettes, smoking mixtures and chewing tobacco.

, According to'this invention apparatus of the kind described is characterized by a condensingdevice comprising a member presenting a concave surface to the interior of the heating chamber and provided around its lower edge with an annular trough hav ing a discharge pipe leading from it to the outside of the casing for the removal of the condensed products which have accumulated in the trough. Preferably the construction is such that-the perimeter of the lower edge of the concave member is substantially equal to that of the heating chamber and the sloping sides of the former spring from the top edge of the latter. z a

A feature of the invention consists in a construction of apparatus of the kind first herein described having a heating chamber surrounded by a jacket across which are one or more partitions to divide it into two or more compartments, means to conduct the heating fluid to each of the compartments so 1 formed and means for the removal of waste stood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectionof a preferred construction of apparatus embodying the features of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a section. on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section of an alternative construction of tobacco-container; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section through the heater diagrammatically shown in Fig. 1,'and Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of the heater shown in Fig. 4.

The heating chamber comprises a cylindrical casing A closed at the bottom and open at the top. This is surrounded by a cylindricaldouble-walled jacket spaced away therefrom, the two walls being shown at B and B respectively. Between the two walls B and B there may beeither an air-space or the space so formed may be filled with a heat-insulating material such as asbestos paste, silica wool or other desired lagging.

The space between the cylinders A and B constitutes a. heating jacket'for the chamber A. Across the heating jacket so formed are preferably two annular partitions C, C 'so that the jacket is divided into three equal-sized chambers one above the other and to-each of these chambers are led heated gases from a heater designated as a whole by the reference character D to be describedmore particularlyhereinafter.

Theheated products of combustion, and in the, preferred case heated air obtained by the draft through the heater, are led into a box or trunk E, the interior of which trunk communicates wit the compartments of the heating jacket thro gh passages E E E The passages E and E are of comparatively small area while the passage E is-of considerably larger area and each of them, if desired, may be valve-controlled in any convenient manner as by means of sliding dampers diagrammatically shown at E E and E Pipes F F F from each of the heating jacket compartments lead to a common uptake F'for the removal ofthe cooled heating gases and each of the pipes is valve-con- A while the ends of the passage formed be-.

tween thecylinders B and B? are closed in a similar manner .at thetop, preferably by an annular plate B 7 The plates A and B are preferably lagged on their upper surfaces with asbestos or other heat-insulating material, not shown in the drawings, to prevent heat-radiation through them. The exterior of the whole apparatus may be lagged also with any desirable heatinsulating material or such parts of it may be so lagged asfound convenient or necessary.

Disposed immediately in front of each of the plpes or passages E E E is a'screen of heat-insulating material, such as sheet asbestos, E, which may be steadied or held in place in any convenient manner, (not shown in. the drawings) and each screen E" preferably extends for about one-third of the circu ference of the apparatus. The

purpose 0 the screens'E" is to distribute the heating medium entering through the passages E E E more evenly around the heating jacket. If the screens E are not provided, it isfound that that portion of the casing A immediately in line with the passages E E E becomes too highly heated as of course it will be readily understood" that the heating fluid, at its greatest tem- 'perature, would impinge directly upon such parts of the casing A. In place of a heatinsulating screen, a metal gauze screen could be provided which would also serve to di'stribute the heating fluid more evenly'vyithin the casing. f

. A condenser adapted to close the upper end of the heating chamber comprises a conical member G presenting a concavity'to the interior o fthe. chamber and having around its lower edge a trough G Su rounding the member G is'a receptacle for the reception of a cooling fluid such. as water whereby the-conical condensing surface of the member G" is kept continually cool. A pipe G leads from the trough through theside' wall to the outside of the apparatus so that fluid which has condensed on the surface of the member G and has run into andjaccumulated in the trough G? may be conducted from. the trough to a convenient receptacle. The condenser and its surroundingwater-jacket, as will be seen, form the closure or cover of the apparatus and to his end a flange-Gr is provided to rest upon the top of the apparatus. j

, The tobacco is. preferably charged into.

receptacles which conveniently comprise cyerally imperforate, whose apices project into the interior of the containers. Around the lower edge of each of the conical bases may be formed a trough to catch any vapor which, may condense on the lower side of the conical base, having emanated from the tobacco contained in the receptacle below it.

.These containers are placed and supported in position, in a similar manner to thatjust described, one above the other.

As a further alternative construction, each container may be provided with aperforated false bottom situated withipthe cylindrical casing at the level of' the apex of the conical base, and that portion of the side wall of the casing extending between the false bottom and the lowermost edge may be slotted or apertured.

In another form, each cylindrical container may be provided with a flat perforated or gauze bottom and'about midway in its height is provided with another removable gauze or perforated tray, while in the side walls of the container below the latter tray are holes to permit of circulating air. Thus, the container is divided intowhat is .practically two containers in close proximity to one another.

Such a receptacle is illustrated in crosssection in Fig. 3, in which, as before, the container is referred to by the letter J, and the false bottom is'shown at 3*. while the perforations in the container-wall .l are shown at J and the gauze bottom at J In every case -where perforated bases are required, such perforations may be provlded by sheets of wire netting offine mesh which form th bottoms or bases of the containers.

In Fig.4 is shown a longitudinal section of the burner D which consists of a firebrick or other casing D within wh'ch are disposed'two horizontal burners D having gasoutlets on either side as shown in Fig. 5.

Above the burners are grids or slotted plates- D preferably removable and supported on channel barsDf. heater is baflled asto its upper portionat D and the air is only allowed to enter at D under the burners and under a baflie-plate l) which helps in the distribution of the air throughout the entire heater. The heated .air is drawn awa 1 into the casing from the upper portion 0 the oppositeend of the The air-entry end of the heater so that all the air entering the heating jacket A, B must pass. through the heated grids D At the bottom of the chamber an air-inlet A may be provided as shown in Fig. 1, conveniently valve-controlled, to assist in the. circulation of air in the apparatus. When conveniently detachably secured to the tobacco-container disposed below an orifice in the trough so that any condensed fluid collecting in the troughmay pass through the orifice into the drip-cup.

In operation the tobacco either as, for

example, smoking tobacco or as cigarettes or as cigars, is packed into containers of the required form which are then placed within the heating chamber one above the'other. In the apparatus illustrated in the drawings, there are three of such containers. Heated air is then admitted to the heating jacket A, B and the temperature of the interior of the heating chamber A is gradually raised to the required degree, varying, for example, as a maximum between 150 and 190 C. according to the character or quality of the tobacco or. product undergoing treatment.

The casing H surrounding the outer surface of the conical condenser G is filled with cold water and as the tobacco becomes heated the nicotin, ammonia and certain other substances are driven OE and condensed on the sloping sides of the condenser from which the condensed products flow into the annular trough G to the discharge pipe Gr leading to the exterior of the machine. 7 The temperature of the apparatus may be maintained equal throughout by the regulation of the dampers E E E and the valves F controlling the admission and exhaust of the heating fluid from the various compartments of the heating jacket. Apertures are preferably provided for the insertion of a thermometer into the interior of the heating chamber at positions intermediate the partitions in the heating jacket so that the thermal conditions inside the heating chamber may be continually observed.

' Such an apparatus has many advantages, a'mong which may be mentioned that the construction of condensing surface G is such that all the products condense thereon and are conveyed to the trough G that is to say, there is no comparatively cold surface upon which the vapors could condense which is not in communication with the annular trough. Further, by the heating arrangements provided, the interior of the casing is uniformly heated and the tobacco does not become unduly heated or discolored at isolated portions. The internal temperature is easily regulated. ,The capacity of the machine is high, as the interior spaceils utilized to its best advantage.

Although a preferred construction of apparatus has been described herein in detail, the invention is not limited to such details as they may be .varied provided always. that the spirit of the invention is not departed from. For example, the treating chamber may be provided with an additional condensing surface at its lower extremity and this condensing surface may be of any convenient formation, that is to say, either flat orslightly coned or pyramidal, the latter presenting either a convexity or a concavity toward the interior of the chamber.

What I claim as my invention'and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Apparatus for the treatment of'tobacco I for the purpose described and comprising a 'chamber for the reception of, the tobacco,

means to heat the chamber, a condensing device in communication with the chamber, saidcondensing device being in the form of a member presenting a concave surface to the interior of' the chamber, a collecting trough for the lower edge of said surface, and a discharge conduit for the trough. 2. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described and comprising a chamber for the reception of the tobacco, means to heat the chamber, a condensing device in communication with the chamber, said condensing device being in the form of a member presenting a concave surface to the interior of the chamber and having the perimeter of its lower edge substantially equal to that ofthe heating chamber with its sloping sides springing from the open top edge of the said chamber, a collecting trough for the lower edge of said concave surface, and a discharge conduit for the trough. 1

3. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco forthe'purpose described and comprising a chamber for the reception of the tobacco, means to heat the chamber, a conical or pyramidal; condensing surface for the chamber presenting its concave surface to the interior of the latter, a collecting trough for the lower edge of the condensing surface,

and a discharge pipe communicating with the trough.

4. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described and comprising a of the said chamber, a collecting trough for -the lower edge of said condensing surface,

I is

and a discharge pipe for the trough.

5. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described and comprising a chamber for the reception of the tobacco, a heating jacket surrounding said chamber, means to divide theheating jacket into a plurality of separate compartments, means to heat each of the compartments so formed,

regulatable means for the removal of Waste heattherefrom, means to condense the products distilled from the tobacco, and means to collect the condensate.

6. Apparatus for thetreatment of tobacco for the purpose described and comprising a chamber for the reception of the tobacco, a heating jacket surrounding said chamber,

-means to divide the heating jacket into a plurality of separate compartments arranged one above the other, means to'heat each of the compartments so formed, regulatable means for the removal of waste heat therefrom, means to condense the products distilled from the tobacco and means to collect the condensate. 4

' 7. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described and comprising a chamber for the reception of the tobacco, a

heating jacket surrounding the said chamber, means to divide the heating jacket into a plurality of separate compartments, means to heat each .of the compartments so formed, regulatable means for the removal of waste heat therefrom, a condensing device for the chamber formed with a concave surface presented to the interior of the said chamber and provided around its lower edge with a trough, and a discharge pipe communicating with the said trough.

8. Apparatus for the treatment 'of tobacco for the purpose described and comprising a chamber for the reception of the tobacco, a heating jacket surrounding thesaid chainber, means to divide the heating jacket into a plurality of separate compartments, means to heat eachof the compartments so formed,

, regulatable means for the removal of waste heat therefrom, a condensing device for the chamber formed with a concave surface presented to the interior of the said chamber and provided around its lower edge with atrough and-having the perimeter of its lower edge substantially equal to that of the heating chamber with its sloping sides springber, means to divide the said heating jacket into a plurality of separate compartments arranged one above the other, means to heat each compartment so. formed, regulatable means forthe removal of waste heat therefrom, avcondensing device for the chamber formed with aconcave surface presented to the interior of the said chamber and pro vided around its lower edge with a trough, and a discharge pipe communicating with the said trough.

10. Apparatus for the treatment of to bacco for the purpose described and comprising a chamber for the reception of the tobacco, a heating jacket surrounding the said chamber, means to'divide the said heating jacket into a plurality of separate compartments, arranged one above the other, means to heat each of the compartments so formed, regulatable means for the removal of waste heat therefrom, a condensing device for the chamber formed with a concave surface presented to the interior .of the said chamber and provided around its lower edge with a trough, the perimeter of the lower edge of the concave member being substantially equal to-that of the heating chamber with its sloping sides springing from the open top edge of the said chamber, and a discharge, pipe communicating with the said trough.

11'. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described comprising a heating chamber, a condensing device formed with a concave surface presented to the interior of the heating chamber, a trough provided around the lower edge of the said surface, a discharge pipe communicating with the trough, and a plurality of tobaccoreceptacles arranged one above the other within the heating chamber.

12. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described comprising a heating chamber, a condensing device formed with a concave surface presented to the interior of the heating chamber, a trough provided around the lower edge of the said surface, a discharge pipe communicating with the trough, and a plurality of tobaccoreceptacles arranged one above the other within the heating chamber, each of the said receptacles having a perforatedbase.

, 13. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described comprising a heating chamber, a condensing device formed with a concave surface presented to the interior of the heating chamber, atrough provided around the lower edge of the said surface, a discharge pipe pommunicating withthe trough, and a plurality of tobaccoreceptacles arranged one above the other within the heating chamber, each of there- ,ceptacles having a perforated base, a perforated/false bottom separated therefrom and side /walls, perforated in the part situated between the base and the false bottom.

14:. Apparatus for the treatment of toof tobacco-receptacles arranged one above the other in the heating chamber in the di-- rection of its axis, a heating jacket surrounding the said chamber and divided into a plurality of separate compartments one above the other, a-fluid heater disposed out,- side the said heating jacket, means to conduct heated fluid into each'of the compart- 20 ber, and a discharge pipe communicating with the said trough.

15. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described comprising, a tubularheating chamber, a plurality of tobacco-receptacles arranged one above the other in the heating chamber in the direction of its axis, a heating jacket surrounding said chamber and divided into a plurality of separate compartments one above the other, a fluid heater disposed outside the said heating jacket, means to conduct heated fluid into each of the compartments of the heating jacket, regulatable means to remove waste heating fluid from each of the compartments, a conical condensing surface ar ranged at the upper end of the chamber in communication therewith and presenting its concave surface to the interior of the chamber, means to cool the exterior of the said conical surface a trough around-1. the lower edge of said surface arranged within the heating chamber, and a discharge pipe communicating with .said trough.

16. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described comprising, a tubular heating chamber, a plurality of tobacco-receptacles having perforated bases arranged one above the other in the heating chamber in the directionof its axis, a heating jacket surrounding said chamber and divided into a plurality of separate compartments one above the other, a fluid heater disposed outside the said heating jacket, means to conduct heated fluid into each of the compartments of the heating jacket, regulatable means to remove waste heating fluid from each of the compartments, a,

conical condensing surface arranged at the to the interior of the chamber; means to cool the exterlor of the said conical surface, a trough around the lower edge of said surface arranged within the heating chamber,

and a discharge pipe communicating with said trough.

17. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described comprising, a tubular heating chamber, a plurality of tobacco-receptacles arranged one above the other in the heating chamber in the direction of its axis, a heating jacket surrounding said chamber and divided into a plurality of separate compartments one above the other, a fluid heater disposed outside the said heating acket, means to conduct heated fluid into each of the compartments of the heating jacket, regulatable means to remove waste heating fluid from each of the compartments, a conical condensing surface arranged at the upper end of-the chamber in communication therewith and resenting its concave surface to the'interior of the chamber, a water-j acket surrounding the exterior of said conical surface, a trough around the lower edge of said surface arranged within the heating chamber, and La discharge pipe communicating with said trough. r

18. Apparatus for the treatment of tobacco for the purpose described comprising, a tubular heating chamber, a plurality of tobacco-receptacles having'perforated bases arranged one above the other in the heating chamber in thevdirection of its axis, a heating jacket surrounding said chamber and divided into aplurality of separate compartments one above the other, a fluid heater disposed outside the said heating jacket, means to conduct heated fluid into each of the compartments of the heating jacket, regulatable means to remove waste heating fluid from each of" the compartments, a conical condensing surface arranged at the upper end of the chamber in communication therewith and presenting its concave surface to the interior of the chamber, a waterjacket surrounding the exterior of said conical ,surface, a trough around the lower edge of said surface arranged within the heating chamber, and a discharge pipe communicating with said trough.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the two subscribing witiiesses.

FRANCIS TRAVERS manwoon.

I Witnesses:

ALEo GEORGE TROUGHTON, ETHEL MODEARINID.

presence of v 

